Harare International Festival of the Arts breathed life into the Sunshine City but sadly all good things come to an end.
The closing act at Hifa was highly imaginative as it featured Chiwoniso Maraire as a special guest at Moke’s performance.
Moke is a Dutch band with a big following in the Netherlands.
Their music is described as “Britpop” and “Indie Rock” and their lyrics have a political slant, often drawing attention to the turbulent history of Northern Ireland and the plight of youths in Palestine.
As is always the case, the festival ended with a breathtaking display of fireworks.
Elsewhere at the festival, a play titled “The Man who Committed Thought” was well received by audiences.
The one-man play unravels the ugly nature of societies.
Patrice plays many roles but his main character is that of a lawyer who has been jammed in a dodgy hunt for exactness in war torn, post-colonial Sierra Leone. The artist exchanges these roles exquisitely.
According to Zimbojam: “Reminiscence and fantasy play a big impact in this solo routine where the nostalgic imprisoned lawyer is profoundly wrapped up in precedent events chiefly his trial where he pleads with his attorney to appeal to the Queen for his discharge.
“The Man Who Committed Thought” is a fight against ignorance, subjugation and many other forms of ill-acts in many countries and it is in this artistic routine that the artist takes theatre at its apex to illustrate the true situation on the ground.
Chaponda says: “I focus on pain and things that stress people, like corruption and poverty.”
But this year’s Hifa would be remembered for the two days namely the Lion Lager Day and the Coca-Cola Day.
On both days, it was entertainment galore as there were standout performances from theatre, dance, music and poetry. The Lion Lager saw sold out performances by Lokua Kanza, Bibi Tanga and the Selenites, Donpasta, Identity Moves by Sharona Florshem, which left audiences wondering what our societies have become.
On Coca-Cola there were stand out performances by Mathius Julius and Mokoomba, Winky D, Jesus My Boy, Burn Mukwerekwere Burn all at ZB Bank Reps Theatre and BLK JKS at Telecel Main Stage as well as Mic Inity at 7 Arts Theatre.
Those who didn’t attend any of the shows don’t know what they missed as “The Engagement Party” was an eye-opener!
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